Independence of Research, Conflicts of Interest, and Use of AI and Technology

Mercatus Commitment to Independence of Research

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University aspires to bring about a society where individuals can thrive in freedom and prosperity. We believe this is possible when academic, policy, and civic institutions are equipped with the talent necessary to advance the ideas and values of classical liberalism—the foundation of a free and prosperous society.

To achieve this vision, we maintain and cultivate a vibrant community of in-house and external scholars dedicated to applying market-oriented thinking and classical liberal principles. We also mentor and train up-and-coming scholars and thinkers, equipping them to generate new ideas in this vein and to influence key institutions.

These scholars produce research in a variety of areas, and Mercatus is committed to high standards of quality and credibility for all research products. We uphold these standards through internal review, rigorous editing, and a transparent process for selecting and producing research products.

As a 501(c)(3), Mercatus is funded by thousands of generous individual and organizational donors. Research undertaken by Mercatus scholars may conflict with the opinions and interests of the organizations and individuals providing financial support, because financial supporters do not influence or control the research design, methodology, analysis, or findings of Mercatus scholars. Mercatus does not accept offers of financial support predicated on such expectations. Furthermore, Mercatus scholars do not conduct research cosponsored with other organizations that support Mercatus financially.

To ensure that all donors understand our commitment to independent research, we share the following paragraph with all individuals or organizations that provide or are considering providing Mercatus with financial support:

The Mercatus Center is committed to high academic standards. Mercatus scholars independently pursue a research agenda and educational activities that advance our mission. Mercatus does not engage in research or educational activities directed or influenced in any way by financial supporters.

Mercatus Policy Regarding Conflicts of Interest

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a university-based research center, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University seeks to avoid publishing research that presents a conflict of interest, or the appearance of a conflict of interest, to the author or the Center. This statement provides guidelines and procedures for the identification and resolution of real, potential, or apparent financial conflicts of interest that may arise in Mercatus-supported research.

Definitions:

An affected person is any author or researcher supported by the Mercatus Center who has a financial interest in the research in question, as defined below.
An affected person has a financial interest if the individual has, directly or indirectly, any ownership, investment, or compensation arrangement such that he or she stands to benefit financially from the impact of the research in question, or could stand to benefit in the foreseeable future.
The term conflict of interest means any financial interest that could significantly impair the affected person’s objectivity or undermine the academic integrity of the research in question. For a conflict of interest to exist, there must be an existing or clear potential financial interest that may bias or appear to bias the affected person’s research. For example, a conflict of interest might result from a consulting engagement on related topics, although this policy is not restricted to that instantiation of a conflict of interest.

Procedures:

In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an affected person has a duty to disclose the existence of the financial interest prior to initiating the research in question, or at the earliest opportunity if the conflict was not known before the initiation of the research. The affected person must disclose all material facts to an executive team member, or their designated appointee.
In order to determine whether a conflict of interest exists, an executive team member or their designated appointee, shall review any disclosures regarding the financial interest of any affected persons who suspect they might have a conflict of interest while working with the Mercatus Center.
After exercising due diligence, an executive team member, or their designated appointee, shall determine whether a conflict of interest exists, consulting with the executive director when appropriate, or with the Mercatus Center’s legal counsel. If a conflict is found to exist, the Mercatus Center will not pursue the research in question with the affected person. This decision may be made even if there is a strong appearance of a conflict of interest but no actual conflict. If no conflict or relevant appearance of conflict is found, the Mercatus Center will document the decision, and the research in question may proceed accordingly or with appropriate modified terms as agreed to by the affected person.
If an executive team member or their designated appointee has reason to believe an individual failed to disclose an actual or potential conflict of interest, the Mercatus Center will seek corrective action. If a determination is made that the individual did not disclose a possible conflict of interest before initiating the research in question, the Mercatus Center may at its sole discretion terminate the project and sever professional ties with the affected person.
In addition to the Mercatus Center’s own policies, Mercatus requires that all its affiliated scholars adhere to the conflict-of-interest policies of the journals and outlets in which they publish.

Mercatus Policy on the Use of Technology and AI

In addition to conducting research on artificial intelligence (AI) policy, Mercatus makes use of practical AI solutions throughout the organization. Mercatus staff, researchers, and authors may use a variety of technology tools, including large language models, to assist with tasks, including research tasks, when deemed appropriate. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research organization, we are committed to the ethical, transparent, compliant, and responsible use of technology in research and operations.

Mercatus advises its staff, researchers, and authors who use generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT) in their Mercatus-related work to follow these guidelines:

Confidential or proprietary information, whether organizational or third-party, may only be uploaded to authorized and secured systems—whether branded as AI or not.
AI tools may not be used to analyze or utilize data obtained unethically or without proper consent, violating data protection laws.
All AI-generated content, including source citations, must be checked by the author(s) to ensure accuracy and reliability.
AI tools may not be listed as authors or coauthors of a research paper or derivative product. Authors using AI tools in research or writing must transparently disclose its use, including the tool’s name, version number, and developer, as well as how it contributed to the production of the paper. Disclosure could appear in general form on the copyright page or in a section on methodology, or more specifically in a footnote, endnote, or source line for figure or table cited according to guidelines in The Chicago Manual of Style as currently adopted by Mercatus. Authors remain fully responsible for the content of their manuscript, including portions produced with the assistance of AI tools.

See also the Mercatus Center’s privacy policy. Mercatus continually reviews procedures and policies to ensure that it follows their provisions and is faithful to intent.

Last updated June 2025